The planning policy context

The National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)Developing the planning approach section and in the 'NPPF checklist for practitioners' document.

The Local Plan

Local authorities are required to produce a Local Plan for the development and use of land over a 15-20 year period. The Local Plan should include information on the allocation of sites for a particular type of development or use and guidelines on the determination of applications for planning permission.

Supplementary planning documents to aid planning applications and infrastructure delivery can also be produced. Further advice on working with the Local Plan is set out in the Local planning framework

Neighbourhood planning

Local communities and business districts can now develop a statutory neighbourhood planning document under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011. Once adopted by the local planning authority as part of the statutory Local Plan, it will be used for making decisions on planning applications. Further advice on working with neighbourhood planning is set out in the Neighbourhood planning section.